Now council chiefs have been called in to protect the pensioners from a splattering.

Special wire meshing will be erected in a bid to stop the problem, which is blighting Bradan Road in Troon.

Residents, who say the problem has been chronic for more than two years, have been boosted by the news that council bosses are set to act.

And the news has been welcomed by MP Brian Donohoe, who has witnessed the pigeon problem first hand.

He said: “This is a quite disgusting situation which residents of the sheltered housing unit have been putting up with for going on two years.

“When I witnessed the mess and spoke to some of the residents, who were far from happy with the situation between the noise nuisance and the dragging of the faeces covering the pavements and paths into their homes, I immediately wrote to the council to ask them what was going on.

“Councillor Philip Saxton had been informed that the installation of a type of wire mesh to deter the pests was supposed to be undertaken some months previously.

“However, this work was never carried out due to the council not having the, in my opinion, astronomical cost of £10,000.

“Shortly before Christmas I received notice from South Ayrshire Council that they are actively looking at what different options may be available to the council to help eradicate this problem.

“They have also indicated that from the information provided, it would appear that the best option would be to erect scaffolding and fix special netting around the solar panels on each of the eight blocks.

“This I presume would deter the pigeons from nesting in the spaces provided by the panels, which of course would alleviate the problem.”

Councillor Saxton added: “In accordance with council procedures, it is necessary to gain three quotes for any work prior to a contractor being instructed to commence.

“With any luck the work will be decided upon and carried out as soon as possible but perhaps it is too much to expect it to be carried out before breeding season is upon us.”

Mr Donohoe added: “I have been assured of an update once a contractor has been established and, like Councillor Saxton, hope this happens sooner rather than later in the hope of having the work complete before the pigeons start reproducing which can cause a whole plethora of problems – mainly the onslaught of aggressive seagulls wishing to prey on the young pigeons.”

The council’s head of community care and housing, Kenny Leinster, has confirmed that work is now imminent.

He said: “Following a procurement process, a contractor has now been appointed to undertake netting of the solar panels on the roofs of the blocks in Bradan Road, Troon.

“The contractor has advised that weather permitting they intend to be on site by the middle of this week.”